Pretty soon I’ll be able to hold conversations with Katie. She blows my mind at how quick she’ll pick up words these days. New ones are geen (green), up, in, out, and a few others I’m sure I can’t remember. She also walks around going “iknow iknow iknow”. I think it’s because when she’s upset about something I’ll sympathetically say “I know sweatheart..” or something to that effect.

I’m enjoying my crafty time. Dish cloths are the new big project these days, as I can crochet them really quick, and Katie can’t get into it as much as she can my knitting while I’m working on it. I’m starting to think of Christmas presents too, and I think I’ll branch away from just the knitting this year. I have aspirations to doing some printscreening, but we’ll see if that ever goes through.

I feel hints of fall, and it’s really exciting. The season changes are always exciting for me. Leaves are just starting to turn, and we’ve had quite a few very cool nights. I can’t wait to go apple picking soon, so we can make big batches of apple sauce and apple pie and mmm-mmm.

She is just sprouting like a weed. Doesn’t her face look so mature in that picture? She loves walking around with my brush pretending to brush her hair. If the grown-ups do it, she wants to be doing it too. She’ll take my hair clip and hold it to her head saying “plhs, plhs” (her form of please). She has decided that she loves wearing shoes, because that’s what we do. I take her outside, and she runs around and around in her sneakers. She is just so much fun.

Oh, and she’ll give you a “buh-bye” if she’s not being too shy.

I’m home 5 days a week now that Corey’s full time at the new store. The shop that he works at opened a store in Brattleboro, and we are just stunned at how much business they’ve been receiving. I guess it was just about time for a store like that to hit Brattleboro.

Katie has turned 1, and kept on going. She continues to amaze me with the things she’s learning. She knows a few words, and will say please (or pishe as she’s still only 12.5 mos) when prompted if she wants something. She’s walking all over the place now, still only needing the support of furniture on occasion. She’s very silly, and loves to entertain. Fortunately for me, she still hasn’t grown out of the cuddliness.

We learned this month that Katie loves swimming, and water. With her enjoyment of bathtime I am totally not surprised by this. She’ll lead you into the water with no fear until it reaches her chin. We’ve been swimming no less than 3 times in the last 5 days. I don’t have any swimming pictures yet, but kiddie pool pictures I think will do.

One word on the weather: hot and sticky.

With all that being said, my crazy brain is starting to miss the little baby. I’m thinking back fondly of being pregnant and having a baby. I suppose it’s all normal, but it seems kinda silly to enjoy this new freedom yet want to give it all up to another baby.

We still are waiting a while yet. We haven’t even gotten through her first birthday yet!

Today she really surprised me when she just stood there, right on camera. No holding onto anything until the end..

Frozen ravioli, drizzled with olive oil, sprinkle salt and pepper (or salt your pasta water), and top it off with freshly cut chives. Amazing.

I’m a semi-vegitarian. After a long time of having knowledge of some of the very disgusting things the mass meat industry do, I finally decided to do something about it. For a while Corey and I had decided to eat more locally produced natural meats, partly in response to having learned of the meat industry cruelties. It’s also a taste factor. It’s just better. Then we had Katie and money became tighter…

After hearing an NPR program – that didn’t really tell me anything new, just reiterated why we had made that decision in the first place – I decided money could be damned. We don’t need meat at every meal, nor even every day. So for now it’s local meat only (from this great butcher that sells mostly local beef & pork) a few times a week.

One of the best decisions we’ve made lately.

She’s growing, and walking (with some help), and waving, and babbling all the time, and yelling, and developing quite the little determined mind. When she wants to get up and walk around the house, she lets you know. If you’ve taken something from her that she really wants, you won’t forget it. Oh, and sleep time is not quite as easy as it used to be. If I don’t make sure she’s fast asleep before putting her down, I spend an hour and a half trying to put a screaming crying baby to sleep. Lesson learned there.

I took a video today for Katie’s Mawmaw.

In other news, my housemate brought a few new members to the household Friday.

Details on Ravelry.

I love this yarn so much. It is just so soft and luscious. I’m going to have to get some for myself soon.

Too many projects in my head, and not enough time to do them all!

I’m so proud!